YOU CAN HELP

FUNDING SUPPORT DESPERATELY NEEDED TO PRESENT COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS ON ISSUES RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE AND FOR ON-GOING MONITORING OF COURT CASES

R34 937.00

INTRODUCTION
“Weep for the children of this sad land”, was the headline in a national newspaper when the brutal rapes of a 9 month old baby girl in the Northern Cape, a 14th month old baby girl in the Free State and 5 month old baby girl in Johannesburg were reported. The nation is outraged and wants action from the government and for communities to become more caring and concerned about our children. But where do we start to address such atrocities against innocence?

This breakdown in society heightens the need for civil society and activist groups such as Child Abuse Action Group (CAAG) to mobilise and sensitise communities towards the prevention of this crime against innocence. To become more proactive instead of reactive.

Educational workshops are in high demand from rural and urban communities alike. Child abuse happens across all socio-economic groups but most requests for the training programme are from lower-income groups who wish to stamp out child abuse in their communities. 

The Child Abuse Action Group is seeking support to continue its work in combating child abuse through lobbying for harsher sentencing against perpetrators, monitoring court proceedings, creating public awareness through community workshops and media relations.

The organisation has been heavily reliant upon volunteers, people who have a passion for justice and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young children. These volunteers are prepared to continue with their work but are finding it increasingly difficult to cover the cost incurred. 

Problem Statement
CAAG designed a workshop to address the problem after receiving numerous requests to run community information workshops in “How to identify child abuse and report ‘suspect’ incidences”.

Further needs is to step-up activity and ensure a physical CAAG presence during court proceedings. Children’s Rights are not being honoured and legal experts lack sensitivity to the needs of a traumatised child. Quite often a child witness is asked to give evidence in front of the perpetrator which leads to intimidation and the child becoming confused. This can lead to a case being dismissed by a Magistrate as being unreliable or insufficient evidence.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT
One child is raped every five minutes in South Africa. This social decay and decline in moral behaviour is blamed on:
· free access to pornographic materials on city streets
· the belief that sex with a virgin or a very young child will cure HIV/Aids
· unemployment, low-self esteem and boredom
· gambling, drug and alcohol abuse
· outcomes from an oppressive political system - apartheid. 

The reported number of child abuse cases in South Africa is 31 780 for the past 18 months, these are cases of rape and attempted rate of children that have been lodged with the police. There are many more cases that go unreported. Not all cases relate to sexual abuse; there are just as great a number of children who are physically and mentally battered.

Some communities have started to take the law into their own hands and punishing the “accused” before the police or legal action has taken place. 
This type of vigilante behaviour must be discouraged.

Many communities are trying to eliminate these crimes but do not know how to respond.

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
CAAG has designed educational programmes in how to recognise child abuse and how to go about reporting suspect cases. The 10-day workshops are designed to assist parents and adults in following procedures so that the child can be helped and perpetrators properly identified in order to secure prosecution and succeed in sentencing. Follow-up sessions are given to review and discuss progress being made in a particular community. 

With the increase in reported child abuse there is subsequently more prosecutions being heard in the Law courts and the need for children’s court monitors. Each child’s case being heard requires the presence of a CAAG court monitoring leader and supporters to ensure that the system is being fair towards the victim and that the Rights of the child are being practised and honoured by the judiciary. 

Mission Statement
To actively inform and convince the public and the judiciary to implement the laws concerning children as the sentences for child abuse are far too lenient to act as a deterrent to would be child abusers.

The objectives of the project

• Create media attention via; newspaper articles, advertisements, TV and Radio interviews, magazine feature articles.

• Create public awareness through promotional items such as bumper stickers, badges, posters and so on.

• Speaking at conferences on child abuse and presentations at schools and places of work.

• Victim empowerment - Court monitoring of judicial procedures during the hearing of cases and checking on places of safety

• Improving court facilities and court safe rooms.

• Running workshops and training members of the public in matters relating to child abuse

• Continue with 24-hr help line that will inform and advise the public with regards to specific child abuse issues.

• Archiving of data and news cuttings relating to child abuse

• Creation of a database that will record details and assists with follow-up of cases.

• To assist SAP Child Protection Units and Child Welfare in their work. 

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The workshops are designed to assist parents and all adults living in a community wherein child abuse has occur. The workshop will help the individuals to understand the traumatic effect abuse has on a child and how the community can help with minimising secondary abuse by displaying empathy and support.

January to December 2002 - 5 Workshops per year

Topics to be covered in first workshop
1. Recognising child abuse
2. Traumagenic Dynamics of child abuse
3. Signs of child abuse
4. Handling disclosure skills of child abuse

Topics to be covered in follow-up workshop
1. Risk Assessment
2. Multidisciplinary House Building
3. Protocols
4. Case Simulation
5. Self-Care
6. Evaluation

Court Presence & Monitoring
It is vital for Court monitoring leaders to be placed in Johannesburg and Pretoria courts with small support groups of three-five people. Each leader will write a report on the activities of the group and the level of adherence to the Right of the Child during the court proceedings. Should they find the judicial system not being sensitive to the child’s needs they will ask for action from the legal support team of CAAG. The legal advisors will then record the complaint and lodge it with the appropriate magistrate. 

SUSTAINABILITY
The continuance of the good work will depend heavily on the energy levels of the individual volunteers but the organisation has sustained its operations for seven years through thrifty expenditure and determined individuals.

CAAG generates some income through the sale of promotional goods and intends to put more effort into increasing these sales. Financial and non-financial donations sustain the organisation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Child Abuse Action Group was formed in June 1994 in response to a flood of reports concerning child abuse. A housewife Ellen Methven of Randpark Ridge was so outraged she contacted Radio 702 and called for support to help our children. Ellen formed a small group of concerned citizens and they established The Child Abuse Action Group.

CAAG first entered the media spotlight during the widely publicised trial of Samantha R’s abusers, the Otto’s – everyday placards and marches were held outside the courtrooms demonstrating anger and a call for justice. These campaign efforts were given extensive TV and radio coverage and support from high profile individuals such as Judy and Tokyo Sexwale 

CAAG’s work today has a primary focus on the laws governing child abuse by lobbying government for sentences befitting the crime. Lawyers volunteer their time in an advisory capacity. CAAG continues to be a voice for children who are beaten, raped, neglected and tortured and will continue to keep the public informed of plight of the innocent. 

The organisation is a section 21 Company registration number: 1995/009694/08 and has been issued with a temporary registration number under the Non-Profit Organisations Act No: 016-832. CAAG is a dedicated volunteer-based organisation that mans a 24-hour helpline to advise and provide information to the public. Section 18A donations tax exemption has been applied for under the new tax amendments.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Ellen Methven – Chairperson/Founder
Lucy Redivo – Vice Chairperson/Treasurer/Training Facilitator
Britta Rotmann – Legal Advisor
Zelia Theron – Secretary/Court Monitor Pretoria
Nanana Mathebula – Alexander Chairperson/Court Monitor Johannesburg
Nicolas Ericsson – Media Co-ordinator

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
Name of Account: Child Abuse Action Group
Banker: Standard Bank
Branch: Northcliff
Branch No: 00-630522
Account No: 003299619

Previous donors
McCarthy Motors – R2500
Herman Ohthaver Trust – R3000
Turfontein Racing Club – R25 000 – special event fundraising evening 

EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT
CAAG monitors and measures its impact through the number of successful convictions against perpetrators as in the case of the murder of Eddie Pienaar when his stepfather and mother were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after extensive court presence and silent protest from CAAG members. 

Media exposure and press cuttings also give some indication to the level of public concern and interest toward individual cases.

BUDGET
The attached budget is for the expenses incurred during court presence and monitoring and towards the cost of preparation and delivery of workshops.

CHILD ABUSE ACTION GROUP - BUDGET 2002- 2003
WORKSHOPS AND COURT MONITORING

Expenses

Income: R4500 estimate
For the workshops delegates are
Requested to contribute R10 towards materials and refreshments

. . . back to top